The Miami Marlins made a significant move on Sunday, acquiring catcher Christian Bethancourt from the Cleveland Guardians. This transaction brings in yet another player that the Marlins’ new President of Baseball Operations, Peter Bendix, is familiar with from his previous tenure with the Tampa Bay organization.
During the 2023 season, Bethancourt put up solid numbers for Tampa Bay, batting .225 with 16 doubles, 11 home runs, and 33 RBIs in 104 games. Impressively, he also exhibited defensive prowess by throwing out 13 of 57 baserunners attempting to steal. The Panamanian-born catcher has maintained a career batting average of .231, with 113 RBIs and 31 home runs.
Christian Bethancourt, aged 32, had been claimed off waivers by Cleveland on November 6th, and as part of this trade, the Guardians will receive cash considerations.
Notably, this marks the second trade executed by Peter Bendix since taking the helm on November 6th. In late November, he orchestrated a trade with his former team, the Rays, acquiring utilityman Vidal Bruján and right-hander Calvin Faucher, showcasing his intent to shape the Marlins’ roster according to his vision.